AN: This took longer than expected, but here's the final chapter!

"Uhh... Why don't we sit down?" Dr. Glassman gestured towards a chair in front of Allegra's desk, indicating for Shaun to sit down. He took the other chair as Shaun complied with the request, dumping his backpack at his feet.

"Claire convinced me to come back," Shaun announced. "She said that you were acting childish."

Dr. Glassman wasn't surprised at being called out, but he had to add, "You know, you were also being childish, Shaun. You can't just run away from your problems. That's not how things work. Running away worked for you once, but that was different. You were a kid and it made sense. But now you're an adult and have to handle things like an adult."

Shaun met Dr. Glassman's eyes briefly. He said, "Adults don't need other people watching over them all the time."

"You're right, Shaun. And- and I should have realized that sooner." Dr. Glassman folded his hands, rested his arms on his knees, and leaned forward. "But sometimes I still can't help but think of you as a boy."

Fair enough point, they both realized.

"But I've grown up."

"Yeah. Yeah, you have. And I'm just an old man set in my ways."

"Claire did say that you're stubborn. I agree with her."

Dr. Glassman let out a throaty chuckle. "You've got me there. I won't deny that.

Shaun looked down at his hands folded in his lap and said, "Why couldn't you just be honest with me?"

"What do you mean? Honest about what, exactly?"

"Claire said that you were pushy because you care about me. You could have just said that, instead of trying to convince me that you were right and I was wrong. She said that you need to be honest with me. And you weren't, which is why I got mad." Slowly, Shaun looked up at Dr. Glassman and then around the room. Dr. Glassman let out a sigh.

"Well, I'm glad that you finally called me out on it. Like Dr. Browne said, I'm stubborn and set in my ways. But Shaun, even though I did something wrong, so did you. You can't just run off and disappear, especially when you've got a job with all the responsibilities that you have. And ignoring all my phone calls? What you did wasn't acting like a grown up or being honest any more than what I did was."

Shaun knew that Dr. Glassman was right, but he didn't want to admit it directly. Instead, he said, "We were both wrong."

"Yes, we were. And I'm sorry for thinking that I know what's best all the time." Dr. Glassman paused for a few moments, and the two of them sat in silence. Finally, he continued, "How about we make a deal? I promise that I won't be so pushy and forceful. Or at least, I'll try not to be. And if I am, I want you to call me out on it, okay?"

Nodding, Shaun said, "But if it's a deal, I would have to do something as well."

"Yes. If I promise to not be so overbearing, I'd like you to make a promise, too. Shaun, I'd like you to make a promise that you'll be honest with yourself that sometimes, there's some things that you just need a little extra help with. Maybe you don't right now and not for what I thought you needed help with, but someday you will for something. Everybody does sometimes. But you need to be honest with yourself to ask for help whenever that time does come. Okay?"

Shaun didn't move or say anything for a few long moments. The only sound in the room was the breathing of the two men.

Finally, Shaun agreed, saying, "Okay. I think I can do that."

"Good," Dr. Glassman replied. "Now, I think you should go find Dr. Melendez and get back to your job. For the time being, assume that you still have it, but we will have to talk about that later. I'm sure Allegra and Jessica will want to talk to you - and me - tomorrow."

Giving a small nod and picking up his backpack, Shaun left the office.

He didn't know what he had been expecting to happen, but he supposed that things had turned out alright so far and Dr. Glassman didn't seem too mad.

That evening, Lea and Shaun found themselves at a nice restaurant just a few blocks from their apartment building, eating spaghetti that was much better than anything in Lea's kitchen. For a while, Lea chatted about her day, the people she worked with, and how ridiculous they were.

Shaun wasn't really paying attention to her, and it didn't take long for Lea to pick up that he was clearly thinking of something else.

"So, you went back to the hospital today," Lea finally stated.

"Yes I did." Shaun nodded slowly.

"And what happened? Did you and Dr. Glassman get things sorted out?"

Shaun played with a forkful of spaghetti. "We… talked," he began slowly.

"And?"

"Dr. Glassman said that he was going to try to treat me like an adult."

"Well, that's good!"

"And I should tell him if he wants me to do things I don't want to in the future."

"It sounds like things worked out for you, then," Lea replied through a mouthful of noodles.

Shaun didn't say anything, but he also didn't eat and continued pushing the spaghetti around with his fork. Finally, he said, "I don't know if I still have my job."

Lea laid down her fork and leaned forward slightly. "Hey, I'm sure it will all be fine. Whatever happens tomorrow is going to happen. There's nothing you can do about it right now, so let's just enjoy the evening."

"I guess can try to do that."

They ate in silence for a few more moments. Forks clinked on plates and the din of other diners in the restaurant hummed in the background.

Smiling, Lea then said, "I know I've told you this before, but I want to say it again since it seems like an appropriate moment. You're so refreshing to hang out with and so honest. You're not full of yourself like Brandon. That man - well, he's more louse than man - has got to think that the world revolves around him. You met him the other night. But I shouldn't be talking about Brandon tonight. He's out of my life for good, with any luck. He can't keep crawling back to me. And I'm just rambling. But my point is that I really enjoy your company."

Shaun nodded slowly. "I like your company, too."

"So." Lea raised an eyebrow in a suggestive manner.

"So, what?" Shaun didn't know what she was hinting at.

"Yesterday you said that you'd decide if this was a date or not. So… Is it?"

Shaun took a deep breath. Then he abruptly asked Lea, "And what would make it a date?"

"Um, well I suppose something's a date when two people enjoy spending time together doing something - like dinner - on one occasion and they would like to do it again in the future in order to get to know each other better. Does that help?" Lea halfway shrugged, not really knowing how to define a date.

All Shaun said was a thoughtful, "Hmm," before he returned to eating his meal. Lea did likewise.

After a minute or so, Shaun looked up and stopped eating. So did Lea. Nearly meeting her eyes, Shaun said, "It's a date."